San Buenaventura emerged as the only challenger to top Hanohano, and won the primary carrying 43.4% of the vote.

[4] In the general election, she faced Republican nominee Gary Thomas, whom she defeated by 43 points.

San Buenaventura opted to run for reelection to a second term in 2016, and faced no opposition from fellow Democrats.

She advanced automatically to the general election, where she carried 75.5% of the vote against nonpartisan Luana Jones and Constitution Party candidate Moke Stephens.

[7][8] She defeated Democratic challenger Smiley Burrows in the August 8 primary, carrying 78.7% of the vote, and advanced to the general election in November to face Aloha ʻĀina Party candidate Ron Ka-Ipo.